|
Stewart Monfort Manville, fondly
known as “Stew,” started out his life in San Diego, CA. In 1932, at the time of
Stew's birth, his father, Francis Crane Manville, was beginning the first
assignment of his 30-year naval career. After graduating from Annapolis, Frank
was stationed on the U.S.S. Dorsey, a destroyer tender based in San Diego.
Stew’s mother, Alice Spinning Manville, and Stew lived nearby. Over the years,
Frank would have to deal with the constant relocation faced by most of the
officers of his era.
Alice, Stew, and his younger sister Mandy always
would relocate to be near him. They moved 18 times, living on the west and east
coasts, with addresses in seven states. Stew attended 13 elementary schools and
two junior high schools. He thrived in each new location, discovering new places
and neighbors. Part of Stew’s father’s naval ordnance education was gained in
Dahlgren, VA.
Here the Navy tested large guns by firing them
down the Potomac. This provided a new home front adventure for Stew; when
advance warning was given, Stew and his mom would quickly secure all the
cabinets in the house and take down anything that hung on the walls. While
living in Long Beach, CA Frank’s ship, the U.S.S. California, was anchored a few
miles out to sea. When in port, Stew always looked forward to the family’s ride
on a launch from San Pedro to see his father and have dinner and a movie. When
Stew was twelve, his family moved to Fairlington, VA. There he had his first
job, delivering newspapers and selling magazine subscriptions for Colliers,
Liberty, and the Saturday Evening Post. Stew remembered the day World War II
ended; he sold over a hundred papers. With the money he earned from this first
job, he started stamp collecting. He also enjoyed making various pyrotechnic
devices, mostly colorful flares.
For the last three years of high school, Stew’s
parents were concerned that he have a stable environment for completing his
preparatory schooling. Stew had the privilege of attending South Kent School in
Connecticut, an Episcopal boarding school for boys. The outstanding education
received and experiences he enjoyed there were something Stew treasured and
spoke of fondly throughout his life. He enjoyed the school schedule and helping
to prepare the meals and serve them in the dining room. Stew played football,
hockey, and baseball, sang in the glee club, was active in drama and debate, and
worked on the yearbook staff. After graduating, Stew decided to go to the
University of Virginia for two years, taking many courses in French and Italian.
Languages and music were dear to Stew’s heart, and for a year Stew hosted a
campus radio program of operatic music.
In 1950, Stew received a Presidential appointment
to West Point. He succeeded with his academics, continued playing hockey, and
was active in the French, Russian and ski clubs. The years at West Point brought
him life-long friendships. After three and a half years at West Point, Stew felt
that his calling was not a military career, so he resigned, believing that this
was the honorable thing to do. Later, he would regret his decision.
He completed his education at Pomona College in
California and graduated with a B.A. in Mathematics and French. After
graduation, he worked at General Dynamics as a thermodynamics engineer. Then he
was drafted and spent two years in the U.S. Army at Ft. Bliss, TX, as a Nike
Ajax launcher systems instructor. In 1961, he began graduate work in mathematics
at UCLA. During this time he joined a community musical theatre group,
where he met his future wife, Sally, along with her young son and daughter. They
married in 1962, and it wasn't long before they added two more boys to their
family. Ultimately they were blessed with five grandchildren. Their younger boys
and all of the grandchildren were born in California, making them fifth and
sixth generation Californians. Some of his happiest times were spent joking and
laughing with his grandchildren.
Computers became Stew’s forte. With his expertise,
his career took him to North American Rockwell, Bellcomm, Hunt Wesson Foods,
Xerox, and Infonet as a computer professional. He also enjoyed teaching computer
applications as a part-time adjunct professor at Cal State University, Fullerton
and National University, Irvine. Always a student at heart, Stew continued his
education over the years, receiving an M.S. in Management Science and an M.B.A
from West Coast University. Learning foreign languages; collecting stamps, coins
and model trains; listening to all types of music; playing tennis; and avid
reading were some of Stew’s interests. He recorded textbooks for the blind and
helped establish the Junior United Soccer Association, the first major soccer
league in northern Orange County. Stew and Sally sang in many church choirs
together, traveled throughout Europe, and enjoyed visiting many of our country’s
wonderful national parks. Most importantly, Stew’s greatest pleasure was being
close to family.
In 2002, Stew, was diagnosed with pulmonary
fibrosis. Stew knew what was ahead and accepted his fate with dignity. He passed
away peacefully at home, surrounded with family and friends. Stew requested that
“Crossing the Bar” by Tennyson to be read at his memorial service. The last
stanza expresses his deeply held convictions:
“And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark; For throughout our bourn
of Time and Place The flood may bear me
far, I hope to see my pilot face to face, When
I have crossed the bar.” |
